Under the Arch

DR. GARIBALDI NAMES DICK SUKITSCH DEAN OF ENROLLMENT SERVICES

Gannon University President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., has announced the appointment of Dean of Enrollment Services, Richard (Dick) Sukitsch, effective immediately. Sukitsch has been serving as Interim Dean of Enrollment Services since July. “Dick Sukitsch has been an involved, dedicated and visible leader at Gannon for the past 26 years and has successfully served the University in numerous important positions. I am confident that Dick’s extensive experience, knowledge and expertise in enrollment management, and his many positive relationships with faculty, staff, Board of Trustee members, alumni and students, will all serve as assets in his role as Gannon’s Dean of Enrollment Services,” said President Garibaldi.

Sukitsch was hired in 1976 as the Director of Admissions, a position he held until 1985. Sukitsch left the University for four years in 1985 to serve as the Dean of Enrollment at Robert Morris College in Moon Township, Pa., now known as Robert Morris University. Sukitsch returned to Gannon in 1989 as the Dean of Enrollment Management and served in that role until 1995. From 1995-2000, Sukitsch served as the Director of Institutional Research and Associate Provost. When Dr. Garibaldi was appointed President in 2001, Sukitsch continued as Director of Institutional Research and Special Assistant to the President, a post he has held until recently accepting this full-time position as Dean of Enrollment Services. Over the years, Sukitsch has also taught undergraduate marketing and advertising classes as an adjunct faculty member in Gannon’s Dahlkemper School of Business.

Some of Sukitsch’s most significant accomplishments include serving as program coordinator for Gannon’s $1.824 million Title III Grant from the U.S. Department of Education, which was received in 2004 and led to the establishment of Gannon’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) in March 2005. More recently, Sukitsch has chaired the University’s Marketing and Branding Initiative, Believe, since August 2005.

“I have enjoyed my career at Gannon, especially the most recent years and the variety of opportunities presented as Director of Institutional Research and Special Assistant to the President. The past two months spent as Interim Dean of Enrollment were energizing, as I returned to my first passion-- enrollment management. I appreciate the confidence that Dr. Garibaldi and the University have shown in asking me to serve as the permanent Dean and I look forward to directing these efforts. With the growth in enrollment, a successful Comprehensive Campaign, secured funding to build and open the Erie Technology Incubator, and the new Marketing and Branding Initiative, I believe that our great University is poised for continued success and growth and I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of it,” said Sukitsch.

Sukitsch earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Pittsburgh, his Master of Arts degree in Higher Education from Duquesne University and completed all of the required coursework toward a doctoral degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

RECENT NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

News of interest on and around campus...

More than $1,200 was collected on Tuesday, August 29 for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Staff from Center for Social Concerns collected the money in the Waldron Center on the one-year anniversary of the tragedy. Gift cards from Office Depot and Target will be purchased and sent to the Archdiocese of New Orleans Office of Catholic Schools. The money raised includes donations from the Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) and the Panhellenic Council.
Special thanks to Gannon colleagues for their help with media interview requests. Scott Miller, associate director, Dahlkemper School of Business and Director of Graduate Programs, did an interview with Dan Miner of the Erie Times-News on the Millcreek Mall’s Kaufmann’s department store becoming a Macy’s. Greg Andraso, associate professor, biology, and director of the LECOM and pre-medical programs, did an interview with Pam Liccardi of the Erie Times-News on the types of bugs and wildlife common to Erie County.

CAMPUS EVENTS

Tuesday, September 5 – Farewell Reception for Judy Davis: The reception will be held in the Boardroom of Old Main from 3-4:30 p.m. for Davis, administrative assistant in the Dean’s Office of Humanities, Business, and Education. Stop by to wish her luck.
Wednesday, September 6 – Service Fest: Representatives from nearly 40 local agencies and organizations will be in the Waldron Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to recruit student volunteers. Students will be able to identify the agencies that most closely fit their interests for volunteer work.
Thursday, September 7 – Gathering In Praise, World Peace: The service will be an ecumenical prayer service for peace at 11 a.m. in the Yehl Room. The interfaith service will be sponsored by the Office of Campus Ministry.
Thursday, September 7 – Admissions Open House: Scheduled from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Gitnik Manse. Admissions has several new staff members – come and meet them! Refreshments will be served. Call ext. 5336 for more information.
Friday, September 8 – Kirk House Cookout: Scheduled for 5 p.m. Call 459-7152 for more information.
“Our Events” is intended to serve as a random sample of campus events. For a more complete listing, refer to Eventcal.

THE PRESIDENT’S SCHEDULE

Tuesday, September 5 – Strategic Planning II Task Force meeting. Wednesday, September 6 – United Way 2006-07 Community Campaign Kick-off with the Erie Rotary. Thursday, September 7 – Gathering in Praise; Student Hour. Friday, September 8 – GECAC Annual Dinner.

PRAYER CONCERNS

Please remember all in your prayers as regretfully we announce the death of:

Victor Srnka, father-in-law of Julie Srnka, assistant director of SOLD, and grandfather of Gannon student Steve Srnka.
Marian Toohey, mother of Jim Toohey, member of the Gannon Board of Trustees and member of the Gannon class of 1956.
Prayers are requested for David Bistarkey, brother-in-law of Sister Joyce Lowrey. David is in the ICU in Forbes Hospital in Monroeville (Pittsburgh). He is being treated for blood clots in his lungs. Please keep David and his caregivers in your prayers.

CURRENT BIRTHDAYS

Mary Wagner. Ibrahim Kacar. Honey Marburger. Melissa Olivett. Barbara Townsend. Mary Harsh. Joseph Shadle. Arete Moodey. Theresa Howell. Shawn Dawley. Thomas Camillo. Rhonda Hogan. Jay DiFrank. Ludwik Medeksza. Sue Grande. Judy Van Rheenen. Edward Krause. John Crandall. Gong Chen. David Fracassi. Lewis M’Sadogues. Lawrence Kisko. Colin Peterson. Betty Jo Chitester. Shawn Clerkin. Shelly Bentley. Barbara Monschein. Ann Banko. Karinna Vernaza. Tom Jakobic. Wayne Anderson. Charles Dubbs. Donna Skelly. Susan Troutner. David Horton. Ltc. Calvin McCommons. Supawadee Lee. Joseph Mabie.

FROM THE EDITOR

Gannon University faculty, staff, and administrators: As an employee newsletter, Under the Arch is your publication. The goal is for Under the Arch to be a complete resource for you: a place where you can stay up to date on everything happening on campus: events, news related to the university and its employees, important announcements, etc. Your help is needed to make Under the Arch as effective as possible. Please notify us of any news, specific to you or your department, that would be of interest to the Gannon Community. For example, if you attend a conference, present a paper, complete work on an advanced degree, or have any other news to share with your colleagues, please send it to Nick Pronko, media relations officer. Submissions can be e-mailed to pronko001@gannon.edu. To be included in a forthcoming Monday edition, information should be submitted by the preceding Thursday. Look forward to hearing from you!